Moin to be sacked as Pakistan’s chief selector after World Cup
Karachi: Former test captain, Moin Khan will be released from his duties as chief selector after the ICC cricket World Cup regardless of where the Pakistan team ends in the mega-event. According to a well-placed reliable source in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Moin has been told his services are no longer required as chief selector when he met with the PCB chairman recently after returning from World Cup. “Moin will be released from his duties after the World Cup and Shaharyar Khan has already told his associates to start interviewing suitable available candidates for the new selection committee,” the source said. “Before Shaharyar left for India last week he passed on the instructions to start process of shortlisting candidates for the position of chief selector and three or four members of the committee,” the source told PTI. Former stalwarts like Wasim Bari and Mohsin Khan are said to be in the run to replace Moin as chief selector. Moin was called back home from New Zealand by the PCB after it emerged that he had visited a Casino in Christchurch, a night before the match against West Indies which Pakistan lost by 150 runs. Moin took the plea that he had gone to the Casino to not gamble but to have dinner with some of his friends. The PCB also issued a statement after Shaharyar’s meeting with Moin that the board was satisfied with Moin’s explanation and the matter was closed. (PTI)
EB hold Kitchee SC in AFC Cup
Kolkata: East Bengal pulled themselves back after a uninspiring start to hold last year’s semifinalists Kitchee SC 1-1 in their group F fixture of the AFC Cup football tournament here on Tuesday. Spanish marksman Juan Belencoso utilised a Jorge Tarres cross before burying his header past Abhijit Mondal from a close range to give the Hong Kong giants the lead at the half-way mark. The visitors, however, missed at least half a dozen chances as they could not consolidate their lead as Martins brought the handful of supporters on its feet with his brilliant equaliser from a Dudu Omagbemi long header in the 74th minute at the Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan. East Bengal, who were thrashed 1-4 by Johor Daru Ta’zim in the opening fixture, thus opened their account with one point while Kitchee remained in the lead with four points. Having put up an insipid show through the first three quarters, East Bengal showed some urgency but a brilliant goalline save by Kitchee captain and right back Lo Kwan Yee in the 85th minute denied Martins a brace and what could have been a brilliant turnaround win for the red and gold brigade. Incidentally, it was the same Kitchee captain who had came in the way of Martins to deny East Bengal the lead in the first shot at goal in a sixth minute move. (PTI)
Nair’s triple ton takes Karnataka closer to Ranji title
Mumbai: Karun Nair’s unconquered 310 put Karnataka in driver’s seat as the defending champions posted a mammoth 618/7 against Tamil Nadu on day three of the Ranji Trophy final at the Wankhede stadium here on Tuesday. Karnataka added 295 runs today to extend their first innings lead to an imposing 484 runs against their struggling opponents. Nair, who scored his first triple century in first class cricket, piled on 123 runs with K L Rahul in the first session, reaching his 200 just three balls before lunch. Incidentally, this was Nair’s first double century. Batting for two full days, Nair struck 45 fours and a six in his marathon 815 minute knock and reached his 300 with a reverse sweep boundary off Malolan Rangarajan. The youngster is nine runs shy of equalising Gul Mohammad’s record of 319 for Baroda against Holkar in 1946-47, for the highest score in a Ranji final. Resuming at an overnight score of 323 for 5, the Karnataka batsmen continued where he left off and ensured that there were no casualties till lunch. Nair took the charge for the holders as he crafted the triple century after resuming on his score of 130. He looked poised for a big score and the intent of Karnataka was clear that they wanted to set a daunting total. The 23-year old surpassed Gundappa Vishwanath’s 247 against Uttar Pradesh in 1977-78, for the highest runs scored by a Karnataka batsman in the Ranji final. (PTI)
Security scene better but no plans to host top teams now: PCB
New Delhi: Insisting that the security situation in Pakistan is “much better” now, the Cricket Board chairman Shahryar Khan says the PCB can repose faith in full members to tour the strife-torn country in the near future by successfully hosting the ICC associate nations. Khan said at present the PCB has no plans to host top cricket playing nations, who according to him have assured to “consider” touring Pakistan in future if the security situation improved significantly. “If you compare the security situation in the worst times of 2005 to 2008 it is much better now. But sometimes you can get the odd. They are few and far between,” the PCB chief said. (PTI)